Silicon oxide nanomatriaLs for Chemical Industry

Key Properties: 

   Non‑porous; easily functionalized surfaces  

Applications:

  Solid silica (SiO₂) nanoparticles in the size range of 20–100 nm are widely used across industries due to their high surface area, chemical inertness, thermal stability, optical transparency, and surface modifiability. Their size range is ideal for functional

Key Properties: 

   Non‑porous; easily functionalized surfaces  

Applications:

  Solid silica (SiO₂) nanoparticles in the size range of 20–100 nm are widely used across industries due to their high surface area, chemical inertness, thermal stability, optical transparency, and surface modifiability. Their size range is ideal for functional coatings, composites, catalysts, and biomedical formulations.

Industrial Applications of Solid Silica Nanoparticles (20–100 nm)

1. 🧪 Catalysis and Chemical Industry

a. Catalyst Support

• Silica nanoparticles serve as inert, high-surface-area supports for metal catalysts (e.g., Pt, Pd, Ni).
• Common in:
  • Petrochemical cracking
  • Hydrogenation
  • Environmental       remediation catalysts

b. Encapsulation

• Encapsulate enzymes, drugs, or toxic reagents within silica for controlled release or  stabilization.

2. 🧼 Coatings, Paints, and Surface Finishes

a. Anti-scratch and Abrasion-resistant Coatings

• 20–100  nm silica particles are used in clear coatings for:
  • Automotive finishes
  • Consumer electronics
  • Optical lenses

b. Self-cleaning and Anti-reflective Coatings

• Imparts superhydrophilic or superhydrophobic properties when functionalized.
• Common in solar panels, architectural glass, and mirrors.

c. Matting Agents

• Reduces gloss in coatings and inks without affecting transparency.
• Especially effective in wood coatings, industrial paints, and printing inks.

3. ⚡ Electronics and Photonics

a. Dielectric Materials

• Used in ICs, capacitors, and transistors due to low dielectric loss and high thermal stability.

b. Optical Films

• Provides optical clarity and dispersion control in LED and display technologies.

c. Polishing Agents

• Nanosilica acts as a CMP (chemical-mechanical polishing) agent for      semiconductors and glass.

4. 🌱 Agriculture and Food Industry

a. Nano-fertilizer Carriers

• Silica nanoparticles serve as carriers for micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu) or slow-release fertilizers.

b. Food Packaging

• Added to films for antimicrobial, moisture barrier, and oxygen-scavenging properties.

c. Food Additives

• Used as anticaking agent (E551) in powdered foods.

5. 💊 Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications

a. Drug Delivery

• Mesoporous  or solid SiO₂ NPs are used to deliver drugs, proteins, or DNA with targeted release.

b. Imaging and Diagnostics

• Functionalized SiO₂ NPs used as contrast agents in fluorescence imaging, MRI, or biosensing.

c. Dental Composites

• Provides mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, and bioactivity in fillings and coatings.

6. 🧴 Cosmetics and Personal Care

a. Skin Care and Sunscreens

• Used as oil absorbers, rheology modifiers, and UV scattering      agents in creams and powders.

b. Toothpaste Abrasives

• Silica nanospheres provide gentle cleaning action without damaging enamel.

7. 🧱 Construction Materials

a. Cement and Concrete Additives

• Silica NPs fill microvoids in concrete, improving:
  • Compressive       strength
  • Durability
  • Chemical       resistance

b. Fire-retardant Materials

• Coated or blended with resins to improve thermal insulation and flame resistance.

8. 🧬 Composites and Nanomaterials

a. Polymer Reinforcement

• Added to plastics, rubber, and elastomers for:
  • Improved tensile strength
  • Reduced permeability
  • Thermal  stability

b. Hybrid Nanomaterials

• Used to stabilize magnetic NPs (e.g., Fe₃O₄@SiO₂) for biomedical or catalytic uses.

Key Properties:

  Uniform pore sizes (2–10 nm); high surface area 

Applications:

 Mesoporous MCM-41 nanoparticleswith pore sizes ranging from 2–10 nm have a unique ordered hexagonal pore structure, high surface area (up to 1200 m²/g), and tunable surface chemistry, making them highly valuable in diverse industrial applications. Their mesop

Key Properties:

  Uniform pore sizes (2–10 nm); high surface area 

Applications:

 Mesoporous MCM-41 nanoparticleswith pore sizes ranging from 2–10 nm have a unique ordered hexagonal pore structure, high surface area (up to 1200 m²/g), and tunable surface chemistry, making them highly valuable in diverse industrial applications. Their mesoporous architecture is especially useful for adsorption, catalysis, delivery, and separation processes. 

Industrial Applications of Mesoporous MCM-41 Nanoparticles (2–10 nm)

1. 🧪 Catalysis and Catalyst Support

a. Heterogeneous Catalysts

• MCM-41 is used as a support material for metal or enzyme catalysts due to:
  • High surface area
  • Uniform mesopores
  • Thermal and chemical stability

b. Applications:

• Petroleum  refining (hydrocracking, isomerization)
• Fine chemical synthesis (oxidation, alkylation)
• Green catalysis: Enzyme immobilization for biocatalytic reactions

Metal/MCM-41 composites (e.g., Pd/MCM-41, Fe/MCM-41) are widely used in industry.

2. 💊 Pharmaceutical and Biomedical

a. Controlled Drug Delivery Systems

• MCM-41’s uniform pore size allows precise loading and sustained release of:
  • Anticancer       drugs (e.g., doxorubicin)
  • Antibiotics
  • Proteins and peptides

b. Gene and DNA Delivery

• Functionalized MCM-41 can transport nucleic acids with protective encapsulation.

c. Diagnostics and Imaging

• Used as nanocarriers for contrast agents or fluorescent probes.

MCM-41 is often surface-functionalized (e.g., with PEG, APTES, folic acid) for biocompatibility and targeting.

3. 🧼 Environmental and Water Treatment

a. Adsorbent for Pollutants

• MCM-41 adsorbs:
  • Heavy metals (Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺)
  • Organic dyes (methylene blue, rhodamine B)
  • Pesticides and pharmaceuticals

b. Gas Capture and Storage

• Modified MCM-41 captures:
  • CO₂ (via amine-functionalization)
  • Volatile  organic compounds (VOCs)
  • SO₂,  NOx gases in emissions control

    

4. ⚙️ Sensors and Electronics

a. Chemical and Biosensors

• Pores  act as molecular sieves to selectively adsorb or bind target molecules.
• Can be used in electrochemical, optical, or gravimetric sensors.

b. Low-k Dielectrics

• MCM-41 can be used in integrated circuits as low-permittivity (low-k)      materials due to its porous and insulating nature.

5. 🔋 Energy and Fuel Applications

a. Fuel Cell Catalysts

• Used as support materials for Pt or Ru in proton exchange membrane fuel      cells (PEMFCs).

b. Hydrogen Storage

• Nanostructured MCM-41 (especially functionalized) enhances H₂ adsorption.

c. Battery Electrodes

• Mesoporous frameworks support transition metal oxides for high-performance      electrodes.

6. 🧴 Cosmetics and Personal Care

a. Controlled Release of Actives

• Used in creams and lotions for slow-release delivery of:
  • Vitamins
  • Antioxidants
  • Fragrances

b. Oil Absorbent and Texture Modifier

• MCM-41 particles improve cream consistency and reduce greasiness.

7. 🧪 Chromatography and Separation Technologies

• Mesoporous silica columns are used in liquid chromatography (LC) and solid-phase      extraction (SPE) for:
  • Protein purification
  • Pharmaceutical analysis
  • Environmental ample concentration

    

8. 🧱 Construction and Coatings

• Used as an additive in self-healing concrete or smart coatings for:
  • Humidity control
  • VOC absorption
  • Moisture-triggered release of biocides 

Key Properties:

  Uniform pore sizes (2–10 nm); high surface area 

Applications:

Mesoporous SBA-15 silica nanoparticles with pore sizes of 2–10 nm are widely used in industry due to their high surface area (600–1000+ m²/g), uniform and tunable mesopores, thick pore walls, and excellent thermal and hydrothermal stability. These characterist

Key Properties:

  Uniform pore sizes (2–10 nm); high surface area 

Applications:

Mesoporous SBA-15 silica nanoparticles with pore sizes of 2–10 nm are widely used in industry due to their high surface area (600–1000+ m²/g), uniform and tunable mesopores, thick pore walls, and excellent thermal and hydrothermal stability. These characteristics make SBA-15 especially suitable for applications requiring molecular adsorption, controlled release, or catalytic reactions involving bulky molecules.

Industrial Applications of SBA-15 Nanoparticles (2–10 nm Pore Size)

1. 🧪 Catalysis & Catalyst Supports

🔹 Use as Catalyst Support

• SBA-15’s  ordered mesopores accommodate large active species like enzymes,  metal nanoparticles, or organometallic complexes.
• Supports active metals such as Pt, Pd, Ru, Fe, Co, Ni for:
  • Hydrocracking
  • Oxidation       & hydrogenation
  • Fischer–Tropsch       synthesis
  • Biomass       conversion

🔹 Advantages:

• Minimizes      nanoparticle sintering
• Facilitates mass transport of reactants/products
• Ideal for acidic and bifunctional catalysis

2. 💊 Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Applications

🔹 Controlled Drug Delivery Systems

• Mesopores of SBA-15 enable precise drug loading and pH-sensitive release,      especially for:
  • Anticancer  agents
  • Antibiotics
  • Hormones

🔹 Bioimaging & Diagnostics

• Used to deliver fluorescent dyes or contrast agents.

🔹 Gene and Protein Carriers

• Functionalized SBA-15 can encapsulate DNA, RNA, or proteins for controlled      intracellular delivery.

✅ Surface can be modified with PEG, folic acid, APTES, etc., for targeted delivery and biocompatibility.

3. 🧼 Environmental Applications

🔹 Adsorption and Separation

• SBA-15 can remove:
  • Heavy       metals (e.g., Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺,  Cr⁶⁺)
  • Organic dyes and pollutants
  • Phenols and pesticides

🔹 Gas Adsorption and Capture

• Functionalized SBA-15 is used in:
  • CO₂ capture (amine-grafted SBA-15)
  • H₂S  or SO₂ adsorption
  • VOC  filtering

    

4. 🧪 Analytical and Separation Science

🔹 Chromatographic Supports

• SBA-15 is used in HPLC and solid-phase extraction (SPE) for separating:
  • Biomolecules
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Environmental samples

🔹 Affinity Sorbents

• Modified with ligands for selective binding of target molecules (e.g.,      glycoproteins, toxins).

5. 🧴 Cosmetic and Personal Care Products

🔹 Controlled Delivery of Active Ingredients

• Used to encapsulate and slowly release:
  • Fragrances
  • Vitamins (e.g., vitamin E, C)
  • Skin actives

🔹 Texturizing Agent

• Improves rheology and oil absorption in creams and lotions.

6. ⚡ Energy Storage and Conversion

🔹 Fuel Cell Catalyst Supports

• SBA-15      can support Pt or Ru catalysts in:
  • PEM fuel cells
  • Methanol oxidation reactions

🔹 Battery Electrodes

• Mesoporous SBA-15 composites with MnO₂, SnO₂, or Fe₂O₃ enhance:
  • Electrochemical       performance
  • Cycle stability in Li-ion batteries

    

7. 🧱 Construction and Smart Materials

🔹 Smart Additives in Coatings or Concrete

• Acts as moisture-regulating additive or carrier for corrosion inhibitors.

Also used in VOC-absorbing wall coatings.